Sill construction



June 24, 1930. J. LEDWINKA 51m. conswnucwron Filed Dec. 21, 1926 u u n INVENTOR. ZY/eDQuJUZZI; A'TTORNEY.

Jseph B Y 15 pearance of the comp Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATEN'D OFFICE JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGiN'OR '10 EDWARD G. BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OP PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA, A COB- PORATION OF I PENNSYLVANIA SILL CONSTRUCTION Application filed December 21, 1928 Serial No. 158,088.

This invention relates to a sill construction for automobile bodies, particularly those,

particularly those formed of pressed metal,'

the parts or elements of the structure are I 10 designed with a view to the-ease with which they may be manufactured, the facility with which they may be assembled and secured together, the obtainance of a maximumstrength for a minimum wei ht, and the final a leted body. Especia y does the design of the body side sill require a, careful consi since this element is that upon which the body is built up and is generally of considerable size, wherefore, its production by stampingoperations is rendered difiicult.

The object of this invention is to provide a sill constructed of pressed metal for auto mobile bodies which is readily and inexpensively manufactured by stam ing operations, easily assembled into the b0 y and possesses great strength without excessive weight.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from time to-time during the description.

An embodiment which the invention may take is shown in the accompanying drawlng wherein, Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewof an automobile body using a sill formed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sill, taken from the line 2-2 of Fig.1,

i Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the sill shown in Fig. 2; taken from the line 3-3 of said figure,

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on" line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

. The sill is shown herein as forming apart of the structure of a touring car body, but it should be appreciated that it could be used deration of these advantages equally as well in other. types of bodies, either open or closed.

The body shown in Fig. 1, comprises a cowl unit 1, front door 2, front seat unit 3, rear or tonneau door 4, and a tonneau unit 5. The 4 arrangement of the vertical posts of the frame is well understood; the post at the rear of the cowl to which thefront door is hinged being the A post, that between the front and rear doors being the ,B-C post, and that at the rear door to which the latter is hinged being the D post. The manner in which these posts are attached to the sill does not form a part of this application, so will not be described in detail. The body paneling, o5

likewise, is not a part of the subject matter covered by this application and the description th reof, or reference thereto, will only be to the extent that such paneling relates to the sill construction.

- 70 The sill used in the embodiment ofthe invention is an integral stamping of sheet metal. The forward portion. of the sill be yond the A post is an upwardly presenting flanged channel member having a base 6, an 15 outer arin 7, and an inner arm 8. The outer arm is inclined outwardly while the inner arm, of shorter vertical height than the outer,

has a flange Qprojecting inwardly'of the body. The cowl paneling 10 lies against the an outer arm 7 and 1S flanged at 11 so as tolie against and beneath the base 6.. The panelmg 10 is preferably welded to the channel.

At approximately the point of the A posts securement to the sill the outer arm 7 termias nates and'the base 6 is cut away inwardly, as indicated at 12. This cut away portion extends rearwardly in a slightly outwardly increasing curve. to the point 13 just in advanoe of the D post. The outer sideof the co remainder of the sill is again inwardly cut away as indicated at 14. The flange9 on the inner arm extends the full length of -.the sill except at the point 15, where tabs are cut therefrom to form a part of the secur 95 ing meansfor the D post. The base of the Slll 1s upwardly ofiset at its rear end startingv approximately on a line through the tabs 15.

In order to provide a threshold and finish strip along the sill at the doorway, a sepatea rate member is secured thereto. This member comprises in the main an inwardly facing channel member having inwardly extending arms 16 and 17 and a connecting portion 18 therebetween. The arm 16 is inclined upwardly and has a downturned flange 19 at its inner end which cooperates with the flange 9 of the sill to form a support for the floor boards of the body. The connecting portion 18 is inclined outwardly and is of greater height than the arm 8 of the sill. The arm 17 is upwardl deflected intermediate its ends a distance su stantially equal to the thickness of the base 6. of the sill. The arm 16 is cut away at each of its ends a short distance so that the portion 18 will extend therebeyond and form lugs 20 and 21. The end of the threshold member at which the lug 20 is located is provided with a slot'between the lug and the arm 17 21:: al length substantially equal to. that of e ug.

The threshold member is applied to the sill at the inwardly cut away portion, the arm 17 overlapping the base 6 of the sill and bemg preferably welded thereto, although it maybe riveted or otherwise secured. The overlap between the arm and the sill follows the curve of the cutawa portion and because of the upward de 'ection of the arm 17 the two members thus secured together present a plane under surface. The u extends along" the outside of the outer arm 7, while, due to the slot between the lug -and the arm 17, the latter is'nested' in the sill between arms 7 and 8.

The connecting portion 18 of the threshold member constitutes thefinish strip for the body below the door openings while the arm 16 thereof forms a openings.

'Thewsill is readily formed by stamping operations being an integral pieceof simple configuration. In like manner the threshold member lends itself to stamping very readily being of an easily handled size and not hav- 1 ing any diflicult flanges or curves. The two members are so arranged as to permit of a to form an integral part of the sill structure.

sembl y and connection in a facile manner, Q such omdure presenting a strong serviceable connection. While the sill and threshold member after assembly constitute in effect an integral member, it is quite apparent that a slngle member possessing the'same configuration would be practically impossible of production by stamping operations. I The manner in whichv the cut awa rtionof the sill is curved and the threshold member secured thereto takes care of the contour of the finished body, and the v upwardly deflectgd'portion of the sill base provides for the rear wheel housin Another, and most important factor is t at the sill thus constructed; adapts itself admirably for the apll plic'ation of the panelingthereto. 3

threshold for the door The foregoing description has shown that a construction embodying the invention fully and adequately attains the objects desired, so accordingly, the following claims are herewith appended with the understanding that the various adaptations and modifications which such invention may take are only to be limited by the scope of said claims.

What I claim is 1. In an automobile body construction, a main body side sill a part of which is an angle and another part of which is an upwardly resenting channel, and a separate member in the form of an inwardly presenting channel having its lower arm overlappmg and secured to the base of the angle of the sill and its vertical arm in longitudinal continuation of'the outer arm of the channel part of the sill, the upper arm of the separate member forming a threshold.

2. In an automobile body construction, a

main body side sill upwardly deflected adjacent one end and having an upwardl presenting channel adjacent the other en andan inwardly presentin channel member secured to said sill interme iate the upwardl deflected and channeled portions thereof wit its vertical arm in longitudinal continuation of the outer arm of the channeled portion.

In an automobile body construction a main body side sill comprising an upwardly presenting channel throughout the ma]or portion ofits length, the outer arm of said channel being formed of separate elements one of which is in longitudinal continuation of the other and has an inwardly extending flange forming'a threshold, the parts being secured together to form an integral sill structure.

f1. In an automobile body construction, a main body side sill comprising an upwardly presenting channel theinner arm of which is substantially straight while the outer arm is curved, said outer arm bein cutaway to permit a threshold member to. said sill, said threshold member having an 'arm thereof in longitudinal continuation of the outer arm of the sill and secured thereto 5. In an automobile body construction, an

his signature.-

- JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

secured to '115 upwardly presenting channel member form- 

